Aspidistra plant named ‘Barr01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aspidistra  plant named ‘Barr01’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; relatively vigorous growth habit; relatively rapid production of divisions; glossy medium green-colored leaves; and durability with good landscape performance.

Botanical classification: Aspidistra elatior.

Cultivar designation: ‘Barr01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aspidistra plant, botanically known as Aspidistra elatior, commonly referred to as Cast Iron Plant and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Barr01’.

The new Aspidistra plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed selection of Aspidistra elatior, not patented. The new Aspidistra plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant from within a population of plants of the unnamed selection of Aspidistra elatior in a controlled nursery environment in Fulshear, Tex. in 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Aspidistra plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Fulshear, Tex. since 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Aspidistra plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Aspidistra have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Barr01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Barr01’ as a new and distinct Aspidistra plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Relatively vigorous growth habit and relatively rapid         production of divisions.     -   3. Glossy medium green-colored leaves.     -   4. Durable with good landscape performance.

Plants of the new Aspidistra differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aspidistra are more compact than plants of         plants of the mutation parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aspidistra are upright whereas         leaves of plants of the mutation parent selection are outwardly         arching.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Aspidistra are smaller and have         shorter petioles than leaves of plants of the mutation parent         selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Aspidistra produce divisions twice as fast         as plants of the mutation parent selection.

Plants of the new Aspidistra can be compared to plants of Aspidistra elatior ‘Milky Way’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Aspidistra differ primarily from plants of ‘Milky Way’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aspidistra are more compact than plants of         plants of ‘Milky Way’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aspidistra are solid green in         color whereas leaves of plants of ‘Milky Way’ are green with         white-colored spots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Aspidistra plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Aspidistra plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Barr01’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Barr01’ (left) and the mutation parent, the unnamed selection of Aspidistra elatior, (right) grown in containers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values were grown during the summer in three-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery in El Campo and Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Aspidistra production. Plants were two years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aspidistra elatior ‘Barr01’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed     selection of Aspidistra elatior, not patented. -   Propagation information:     -   -   Type.—By divisions; production of divisions is relatively             rapid.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 days at             temperatures about 28° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 60 days at             temperatures about 13° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 180 days             at temperatures about 28° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 210 days             at temperatures about 13° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Not freely branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact and upright plant             habit; relatively vigorous and produces divisions relatively             rapidly; stemless and leaves basal.         -   Plant height.—About 34 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 41 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Basal, simple.         -   Length.—About 33 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.25 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Elongated acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146A; venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper             and lower surfaces: Darker than 146A; venation, darker than             146A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Aspect: Upright. Strength: Strong, rigid. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Distally, close to 146A;             proximally, close to 154A. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development have not been     observed on plants of the new Aspidistra to date. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Aspidistra have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Aspidistra plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Aspidistra have been observed     to be durable and have good garden performance and to be tolerant to     high temperatures about 44.4° C. and low temperatures about −17.7°     C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Aspidistra plant named ‘Barr01’ as illustrated and described. 